head to head
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.

Execution · Practiced Mastery
A classic beat 'em up sequel where the Lee brothers avenge Marian with kicks and knees.

Execution · Practiced Mastery
A boxing game about memorizing scripted opponent tells and executing precise dodges.
Double Dragon II: The Revenge leans Execution (Practiced Mastery); Punch-Out!! leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
Punch-Out!! leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Double Dragon II: The Revenge
Directional attacks and knee timing carry every fight
Punch-Out!!
precise dodge and punch timing
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Double Dragon II: The Revenge
Enemy thugs use fixed AI routines
Punch-Out!!
scripted opponent tells, not truly adaptive
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Double Dragon II: The Revenge
Minor enemy positioning randomness
Punch-Out!!
minimal randomness in fights
Punch-Out!! leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
Double Dragon II: The Revenge
Learning stage layouts and abusing the hyper knee
Punch-Out!!
memorizing fixed opponent attack patterns
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.